The Inflation Expectations Survey of Households for March 2015 (39th round) captures the inflation expectations of 4,996 urban households across 16 cities, for the next three-month period and the next one-year period. These expectations are based on their individual consumption baskets and hence these rates should not be considered as benchmark of official measure of inflation. The households’ inflation expectations provide useful directional information on near-term inflationary pressures and also supplement other economic indicators. Highlights: -
Qualitative response from survey suggests that percentage respondents expecting general prices to rise by ‘more than current rate’ (i.e., respondents expect higher inflation) during the next three months and next one year have marginally increased. Inflation expectations were slightly higher across various product groups for both the horizons. -
A similar pattern is witnessed in terms of quantitative responses. However, the current inflation perceptions, and inflation expectations on an average (both three-month ahead as well as one-year ahead) remained at single digit in current round (Chart1). -
The survey shows that retired persons and housewives have comparatively higher level of inflation expectations for three-month ahead period based on median inflation rates. Respondents from Guwahati, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Patna and Lucknow cities expect relatively higher inflation for next three months. | Table 1: Respondents’ Profile (Category): Share in Total Sample | | Category of Respondents | Share in Total (%) | Target Share (%) | | Financial Sector Employees | 9.7 | 10.0 | | Other Employees | 15.9 | 15.0 | | Self-employed | 20.3 | 20.0 | | Housewives | 29.3 | 30.0 | | Retired Persons | 9.8 | 10.0 | | Daily Workers | 9.9 | 10.0 | | Others | 5.0 | 5.0 | | Note: The above sample proportion is for the round ended March 2015 survey. |
| Table 2: Product-wise Expectations of Prices for Three-month ahead and One-year ahead | | (Percentage of respondents) | | Round No./survey period | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | | (Round ended) → | Mar-14 | Jun-14 | Sep-14 | Dec-14 | Mar-15 | Mar-14 | Jun-14 | Sep-14 | Dec-14 | Mar-15 | | Options: General | Three-month ahead | One-year ahead | | Prices will increase | 89.2 | 77.5 | 86.4 | 72.4 | 73.6 | 94.1 | 83.6 | 90.0 | 79.8 | 82.2 | | Price increase more than current rate | 51.2 | 41.2 | 43.9 | 25.7 | 28.3 | 59.0 | 47.4 | 48.0 | 32.1 | 32.9 | | Price increase similar to current rate | 28.4 | 21.5 | 28.8 | 27.0 | 24.0 | 25.7 | 22.0 | 27.4 | 29.9 | 28.8 | | Price increase less than current rate | 9.6 | 14.8 | 13.7 | 19.8 | 21.2 | 9.3 | 14.2 | 14.6 | 17.8 | 20.6 | | No change in prices | 8.3 | 12.7 | 9.0 | 16.5 | 15.4 | 3.5 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 11.2 | 10.0 | | Decline in price | 2.5 | 9.8 | 4.6 | 11.0 | 11.1 | 2.4 | 9.0 | 4.5 | 9.0 | 7.8 | | Options: Food Product | Three-month ahead | One-year ahead | | Prices will increase | 88.6 | 77.2 | 85.9 | 72.3 | 74.4 | 93.8 | 82.8 | 89.5 | 79.9 | 82.4 | | Price increase more than current rate | 51.9 | 42.3 | 41.9 | 25.2 | 27.9 | 57.6 | 47.0 | 46.2 | 30.7 | 32.0 | | Price increase similar to current rate | 26.3 | 21.5 | 28.1 | 28.5 | 25.2 | 26.3 | 21.3 | 27.7 | 30.5 | 29.2 | | Price increase less than current rate | 10.4 | 13.4 | 15.8 | 18.5 | 21.3 | 9.9 | 14.5 | 15.5 | 18.7 | 21.1 | | No change in prices | 8.7 | 13.9 | 9.0 | 17.1 | 15.0 | 4.0 | 7.9 | 5.8 | 11.3 | 9.9 | | Decline in price | 2.7 | 8.9 | 5.1 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 2.2 | 9.3 | 4.7 | 8.9 | 7.7 | | Options: Non-Food Product | Three-month ahead | One-year ahead | | Prices will increase | 80.6 | 73.1 | 78.5 | 65.1 | 64.2 | 87.5 | 79.5 | 83.8 | 75.1 | 76.0 | | Price increase more than current rate | 42.5 | 37.3 | 34.7 | 21.2 | 21.7 | 48.1 | 42 | 36.3 | 26.1 | 25.8 | | Price increase similar to current rate | 27.2 | 21.7 | 27.2 | 26.1 | 24.0 | 28.5 | 22.3 | 29.0 | 30.6 | 28.4 | | Price increase less than current rate | 10.8 | 14.1 | 16.5 | 17.8 | 18.5 | 10.8 | 15.3 | 18.4 | 18.4 | 21.7 | | No change in prices | 16.5 | 18.9 | 17.4 | 25.6 | 24.6 | 9.7 | 12.7 | 12.1 | 16.6 | 16.3 | | Decline in price | 3.0 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 11.2 | 2.9 | 7.8 | 4.1 | 8.3 | 7.7 | | Options: Household Durables | Three-month ahead | One-year ahead | | Prices will increase | 70.5 | 68.9 | 64.0 | 59.7 | 68.2 | 81.5 | 76.9 | 76.8 | 72.1 | 77.6 | | Price increase more than current rate | 35.4 | 35.3 | 27.2 | 20.4 | 25.4 | 44.2 | 42.1 | 33.9 | 27.5 | 29.2 | | Price increase similar to current rate | 23.1 | 20.0 | 22.7 | 23.8 | 24.4 | 25.6 | 20.7 | 26.1 | 27.8 | 29.2 | | Price increase less than current rate | 12.0 | 13.6 | 14.1 | 15.6 | 18.4 | 11.7 | 14.1 | 16.9 | 16.8 | 19.2 | | No change in prices | 21.1 | 20.9 | 24.3 | 27.3 | 21.6 | 12.4 | 13.9 | 15.0 | 16.5 | 15.5 | | Decline in price | 8.4 | 10.2 | 11.7 | 13.0 | 10.2 | 6.0 | 9.2 | 8.2 | 11.4 | 6.9 | | Options: Housing Prices | Three-month ahead | One-year ahead | | Prices will increase | 85.5 | 82.2 | 84.6 | 78.4 | 83.2 | 91.6 | 87.2 | 91.5 | 86.1 | 90.3 | | Price increase more than current rate | 58.0 | 55.4 | 55.5 | 39.5 | 46.7 | 66.2 | 59.7 | 60.8 | 47.9 | 53.1 | | Price increase similar to current rate | 21.1 | 17.0 | 20.3 | 24.9 | 21.5 | 19.2 | 17.8 | 22.5 | 25.6 | 23.0 | | Price increase less than current rate | 6.4 | 9.8 | 8.8 | 13.9 | 14.9 | 6.3 | 9.7 | 8.2 | 12.6 | 14.2 | | No change in prices | 10.2 | 11.1 | 11.4 | 13.7 | 11.8 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 6.6 | 5.4 | | Decline in price | 4.4 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 7.9 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 3.5 | 7.3 | 4.4 | | Options: Cost of Services | Three month ahead | One-year ahead | | Prices will increase | 83.1 | 78.5 | 79.1 | 71.6 | 78.5 | 90.4 | 84.9 | 87.5 | 81.8 | 86.9 | | Price increase more than current rate | 48.0 | 46.4 | 38.8 | 28.4 | 32.7 | 54.8 | 50.6 | 45.4 | 34.7 | 37.6 | | Price increase similar to current rate | 26.5 | 19.4 | 25.3 | 26.6 | 25.7 | 25.4 | 20.7 | 26.9 | 30.0 | 29.5 | | Price increase less than current rate | 8.7 | 12.6 | 15.0 | 16.6 | 20.0 | 10.2 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 17.2 | 19.9 | | No change in prices | 14.5 | 16.2 | 18.0 | 21.7 | 17.9 | 7.2 | 9.3 | 9.8 | 11.6 | 9.7 | | Decline in price | 2.4 | 5.3 | 2.9 | 6.7 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 6.6 | 3.3 |
| Table 3: Households Expecting General Price Movements in Coherence with Movements in Price Expectations of Various Product Groups: Three-month ahead and One-year ahead | | (Percentage of respondents) | | Round No. | Survey period ended | Food | Non-Food | Households durables | Housing | Cost of services | | Three-month Ahead period | | 35 | Mar-14 | 72.0 | 61.6 | 51.7 | 60.3 | 60.8 | | 36 | Jun-14 | 67.8 | 57.8 | 54.0 | 53.1 | 55.2 | | 37 | Sep-14 | 65.1 | 53.9 | 43.9 | 50.1 | 51.7 | | 38 | Dec-14 | 62.0 | 51.9 | 48.5 | 48.3 | 49.5 | | 39 | Mar-15 | 68.8 | 57.3 | 43.3 | 43.1 | 47.5 | | One-year Ahead period | | 35 | Mar-14 | 77.9 | 67.7 | 61.3 | 69.4 | 69.9 | | 36 | Jun-14 | 74.0 | 66.5 | 64.3 | 62.1 | 65.1 | | 37 | Sep-14 | 69.1 | 59.0 | 53.3 | 57.7 | 59.7 | | 38 | Dec-14 | 66.8 | 57.8 | 53.5 | 53.3 | 56.6 | | 39 | Mar-15 | 70.5 | 61.8 | 51.5 | 52.0 | 55.8 |
| Table 4: Household Inflation Expectations - Current, Three-Month ahead and One-year ahead | | Survey Round | Survey period Ended | Inflation rate in Per cent | | Current | Three-month ahead | One-year ahead | | Mean | Median | Std. Dev. | Mean | Median | Std. Dev. | Mean | Median | Std. Dev. | | 35 | Mar-14 | 12.2 | 13.3 | 4.3 | 12.3 | 12.9 | 4.1 | 13.1 | 15.3 | 4.3 | | 36 | Jun-14 | 12.6 | 13.3 | 4.0 | 12.5 | 14.0 | 4.4 | 12.8 | 15.0 | 4.3 | | 37 | Sep-14 | 12.7 | 13.8 | 4.0 | 12.7 | 14.6 | 4.4 | 13.5 | 16.0 | 4.0 | | 38 | Dec-14 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 4.2 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 4.5 | 9.3 | 8.9 | 4.6 | | 39 | Mar-15 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 4.3 | 9.6 | 9.1 | 4.5 |
| Table 5: Factors that Explain the Total Variability | | Round No. | Survey period ended | Current | Three-month ahead | One-year ahead | | 35 | Mar-14 | City, Category, Gender, Age-group | City, Category, Gender | City, Category, Gender | | 36 | Jun-14 | City | City | City | | 37 | Sep-14 | City, Age-Group | City, Age-Group | City | | 38 | Dec-14 | City, Category | City, Category | City, Category | | 39 | Mar-15 | City | City | City | | Note: Results based on exercise using Analysis of Variance. |
| Table 6 : Various Group-wise Inflation Expectations for March 2015 Survey Round | | | Current | Three-month Ahead | One-year Ahead | | Mean | Median | Std. Dev. | Mean | Median | Std. Dev. | Mean | Median | Std. Dev. | | Gender-wise | | Male | 9.0 | 8.9 | 4.0 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 4.3 | 9.5 | 9.1 | 4.5 | | Female | 9.1 | 9.1 | 4.1 | 9.1 | 8.6 | 4.3 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 4.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Financial Sector Employees | 9.0 | 9.1 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 4.3 | 9.7 | 9.3 | 4.5 | | Other Employees | 9.0 | 8.9 | 4.0 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 4.2 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 4.5 | | Self Employed | 9.0 | 8.8 | 3.9 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 4.5 | | Housewives | 9.1 | 9.1 | 4.1 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 4.3 | 9.6 | 9.2 | 4.5 | | Retired Persons | 9.4 | 9.2 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 4.5 | 10.1 | 9.8 | 4.5 | | Daily Workers | 9.0 | 8.8 | 4.1 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 4.3 | 9.8 | 9.3 | 4.5 | | Other category | 8.8 | 8.0 | 3.8 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 4.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Up to 25 years | 8.7 | 8.5 | 3.9 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 4.5 | | 25 to 30 years | 9.0 | 8.9 | 3.9 | 9.0 | 8.3 | 4.1 | 9.4 | 9.0 | 4.6 | | 30 to 35 years | 9.0 | 9.0 | 3.9 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 4.1 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 4.5 | | 35 to 40 years | 9.0 | 8.8 | 4.0 | 8.9 | 8.2 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 8.9 | 4.5 | | 40 to 45 years | 9.2 | 9.1 | 4.1 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 4.3 | 10.1 | 9.5 | 4.4 | | 45 to 50 years | 9.5 | 9.3 | 4.3 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 4.5 | 10.0 | 9.6 | 4.6 | | 50 to 55 years | 9.4 | 9.2 | 3.9 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 4.1 | 9.8 | 9.4 | 4.5 | | 55 to 60 years | 9.2 | 9.1 | 4.2 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 9.6 | 9.1 | 4.6 | | 60 years and above | 9.2 | 9.1 | 4.1 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 4.5 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 4.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ahmadabad | 8.0 | 6.9 | 4.2 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 4.5 | | Bengaluru | 6.5 | 5.3 | 3.5 | 7.9 | 7.3 | 3.8 | 7.9 | 7.1 | 3.7 | | Bhopal | 8.7 | 9.1 | 2.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 3.7 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 3.9 | | Bhubaneswar | 9.0 | 9.3 | 2.8 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 3.6 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 3.8 | | Chennai | 9.2 | 8.6 | 3.6 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 3.9 | 9.3 | 8.2 | 4.3 | | Delhi | 6.9 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 6.9 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | | Guwahati | 10.7 | 9.9 | 4.9 | 11.1 | 11.0 | 5.0 | 10.9 | 10.5 | 5.1 | | Hyderabad | 9.8 | 9.5 | 4.1 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 4.1 | 10.0 | 8.9 | 4.9 | | Jaipur | 8.3 | 8.0 | 3.5 | 9.1 | 8.6 | 4.1 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 4.3 | | Kolhapur | 12.2 | 11.6 | 3.8 | 11.4 | 10.4 | 4.5 | 12.3 | 11.8 | 3.8 | | Kolkata | 11.1 | 10.4 | 4.5 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 4.7 | 11.5 | 11.1 | 4.5 | | Lucknow | 8.3 | 7.9 | 3.7 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 3.8 | 10.1 | 9.6 | 3.8 | | Mumbai | 8.0 | 8.0 | 2.8 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 3.1 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 3.1 | | Nagpur | 11.4 | 11.3 | 4.1 | 10.7 | 10.3 | 4.7 | 11.5 | 11.8 | 4.7 | | Patna | 8.8 | 9.2 | 2.1 | 9.8 | 10.2 | 2.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 2.9 | | Thiruvananthapuram | 8.9 | 8.1 | 3.9 | 7.0 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 9.9 | 9.5 | 4.8 | | All | 9.1 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 4.3 | 9.6 | 9.1 | 4.5 |
| Table 7: Cross-tabulation of Current and Three-month Ahead Inflation Expectations | | (Number of respondents) | | | Three-month ahead inflation rate (per cent) | | Current inflation rate (per cent) | | <1 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 3-4 | 4-5 | 5-6 | 6-7 | 7-8 | 8-9 | 9-10 | 10-11 | 11-12 | 12-13 | 13-14 | 14-15 | 15-16 | >=16 | No idea | Total | | <1 | 3 | 2 | | 2 | 4 | 1 | | | 1 | | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | | 3 | 2 | 24 | | 1-2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 5 | 40 | | 2-3 | | 15 | 20 | 37 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | 2 | | 12 | 111 | | 3-4 | | 2 | 52 | 36 | 35 | 13 | 4 | 1 | | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | 15 | 162 | | 4-5 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 147 | 144 | 66 | 62 | 29 | 28 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 1 | | 3 | | 4 | 22 | 566 | | 5-6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 97 | 99 | 66 | 55 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 4 | | | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 415 | | 6-7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 173 | 46 | 40 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 2 | | 2 | 3 | | 3 | 5 | 362 | | 7-8 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 36 | 34 | 154 | 101 | 61 | 47 | 11 | 7 | 1 | | 3 | | 1 | 9 | 503 | | 8-9 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 152 | 41 | 28 | 25 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 309 | | 9-10 | 2 | 1 | | | 11 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 235 | 173 | 123 | 88 | 32 | 10 | 56 | 4 | 33 | 25 | 823 | | 10-11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 34 | 90 | 132 | 57 | 37 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 12 | 481 | | 11-12 | 1 | 2 | | | 17 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 4 | 18 | 33 | 33 | 23 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 215 | | 12-13 | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | | 14 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 52 | | 13-14 | | | | | | | | 2 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 3 | | 30 | | 14-15 | 3 | 3 | 1 | | 6 | | | 7 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 4 | | 29 | 31 | 15 | 60 | 11 | 186 | | 15-16 | 1 | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 3 | | 1 | 24 | 59 | 54 | 3 | 173 | | >=16 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 13 | | 3 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 19 | 39 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 365 | 31 | 544 | | Total | 43 | 79 | 135 | 290 | 430 | 417 | 345 | 454 | 455 | 444 | 378 | 262 | 114 | 84 | 179 | 118 | 592 | 177 | 4996 | | Note: The shaded cells represent the number of respondents who expressed double digit current and three-month ahead inflation. |
| Table 8: Cross-tabulation of Current and One-year Ahead Inflation Expectations | | (Number of respondents) | | | One-year ahead inflation rate ( per cent) | | Current inflation rate (per cent) | | <1 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 3-4 | 4-5 | 5-6 | 6-7 | 7-8 | 8-9 | 9-10 | 10-11 | 11-12 | 12-13 | 13-14 | 14-15 | 15-16 | >=16 | No idea | Total | | <1 | 1 | 3 | | | 2 | | | 1 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | 10 | 24 | | 1-2 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 7 | | 1 | | 2 | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 40 | | 2-3 | | 15 | 35 | 9 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | 1 | | 6 | 111 | | 3-4 | 2 | 6 | 30 | 31 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | 1 | | 5 | 6 | 162 | | 4-5 | | 4 | 9 | 121 | 135 | 36 | 42 | 94 | 15 | 40 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | 6 | 4 | 6 | 40 | 566 | | 5-6 | | 3 | 6 | 5 | 61 | 89 | 43 | 84 | 21 | 21 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 24 | 415 | | 6-7 | 2 | | 5 | 31 | 5 | 94 | 63 | 38 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | | 5 | 5 | 52 | 14 | 362 | | 7-8 | 1 | 21 | 16 | 34 | 31 | 20 | 129 | 96 | 22 | 35 | 19 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 15 | 503 | | 8-9 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 39 | 57 | 52 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 23 | 9 | 309 | | 9-10 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 62 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 132 | 268 | 71 | 46 | 20 | 19 | 61 | 23 | 53 | 26 | 823 | | 10-11 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 9 | 66 | 161 | 32 | 21 | 10 | 19 | 33 | 28 | 43 | 481 | | 11-12 | 1 | | | 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 33 | 75 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 11 | 21 | 10 | 215 | | 12-13 | | | 1 | | | | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | | 8 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 5 | | 52 | | 13-14 | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | 6 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 30 | | 14-15 | 2 | | 1 | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | | 5 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 58 | 29 | 32 | 4 | 186 | | 15-16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 67 | 53 | 5 | 173 | | >=16 | 10 | 1 | | | 1 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 14 | 428 | 25 | 544 | | Total | 34 | 78 | 139 | 262 | 368 | 294 | 373 | 456 | 301 | 504 | 372 | 199 | 93 | 83 | 233 | 211 | 755 | 241 | 4996 | | Note: The shaded cells represent the number of respondents who expressed double digit current and one-year ahead inflation. |
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